Could smartphone adherence apps help patients with chronic diseases?

Long-term adherence to medication is critical when it comes down to successfully treating chronic diseases. However, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), only about 50% of patients in developed countries who suffer from chronic diseases adhere to treatment recommendations, and this is even lower in developing countries. Nonadherence to long-term therapies can impede treatment success and the overall effectiveness of healthcare systems while increasing morbidity and death rates. The development of mobile health applications, or “mHealth” apps, aiming at improving medication adherence has increased sharply in the past few years; however, their effectiveness and feasibility for integration into the healthcare system remains to be evaluated.